Trellis structure



Nov. 17, 1964 A. E. VAlL TRELLIS STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 26. 1960 INVENTOR. ARTHUR E. VA\L BY inlwillullinwwiiflw illlllill'l BIL-FES- United States Patent 3,157,001 TRELLIS STRUCTURE This invention relates generally to plant supports and more particular ly is concerned with the construction of a trellis, the purpose of which is to support vines, such as climbing roses, ivy and the like.

Recently trellises have been fabricated from metal members primarily because of the fact that metal is easily handled, can be rendered non-corrosive, and can be put up into kits for assembly by the user.

In connection with the latter advantage, aluminum trellises are popular in which the user receives a package containing a large number of members of aluminum, consisting of rods or tubing, clamps and the like, and assemblies the same, prior to installation in his garden. The sale of the trellis as a knock-down kit has great advantages in that storage and shipping charges are very low, it is economical for the manufacturer to sell the parts instead of assembling the same, and it is more convenient for the user to purchase and store until needed. The economy feature of such knock-down kits is another factor in the purchase of the same by persons who require several trellises and who would just as soon assemble the devices themselves.

Assembly kits of trellis structures heretofore have been made in which the primary fastening elements used to assemble the various components of the trellises have been the usual bolts, nuts, screws and the like. Notwithstanding the use of such removable fasteners, the user is reluctant to disassemble the same at the end of the season, which may be desirable in the case of annuals. Although such trellises are manufactured of aluminum which is basically non-corrosive, a trellis left standing over the winter months becomes somewhat pitted and weathered, and since the fasteners are made of steel, some rusting occurs. If paint has been applied, the paint peels and cracks.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a trellis structure in which the assembly of the members of the trellis is accomplished by means of a cooperating arrangement at each junction, in which brackets or clips are provided on one of the members at the junction, and the other member is removably snapped into engagement with said clip at said junction. Cooperating projecting and recess means are provided on the respective members forming said junction to position the members relative to one another. A. bracket or clip may be provided on either member although preferably it is provided on a vertical or vertically extending member to retain cross-members extending generally horizontally therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trellis structure in which the parts can be readily assembled and are self-aligning and locating.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a trellis structure in which parts are readily disassembled without the need for removing bolts, nuts and the like.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a trellis structure in which the structure can be assen bled or disassembled without the use of tools of any kind.

Many other objects will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds in connection with which a preferred embodiment has been illustrated. Variations in the structure are feasible within the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational View of a trellis installed "ice in the ground and illustrating the manner in which the invention is applied to the same.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of a vertical and a horizontal member of the trellis of FIG. 1 and showing the invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and in the direction indicated.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspectivewiew of the joint which is shown in FIG. 2 and showing generally the manner in which the structure is assembled.

FIG. 5 is a sectional View similar to that of FIG. 3 but illustrating a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a reduced diagrammatic elevational view of a portion of a trellis structure incorporating another embodiment of the invention.

Ordinarily a trellis consists of a plurality of vertical members spread in fan shape and the vertical members are maintained in the fan configuration, spaced apart, so as to speak, by means of connections of one or more cross members each forming a junction with the vertical member that it crosses. The basic invention as contemplated herein relates primarily to the junction between the vertical and horizontal members. A spring clip is provided at the junction point of each horizontal and vertical memher having a free spring finger carrying a projection or detent on the inside thereof. Each of the cross members on the other hand is provided at the position intended for the location of the joint with a recess or opening into which the projection 0r detent may engage. In assembly, a cross member is merely slipped into the spring finger of the clip so that the projection engages in the recess to locate the cross member. This is done in a snapping movement and removal is just as readily accomplished. Alternatively, the projection and recess may be provided on the crossed members where they engage one another.

Referring now to the details of the invention, in FIG. 1 there is illustrated a trellis designated generally by the reference character 10 which comprises a base 12 usually inserted into the ground 14 and having a plurality of vertically extending branch members 16 secured to the base usually clamped together at a point 18 stationed above the base 12. In the example shown, four members are provided, but there is no limitation on the number of such members, and notwithstanding that a fan configuration is illustrated, no limitation is intended on the size or shape of the trellis to be formed using the structure of the invention.

The fan configuration of the vertically arranged members 16 is maintained by means of cross members, two of which are illustrated at 20. The cross members make junctions or connections with the vertically extending members at locations which are designated generally by the reference character 22. Such a junction or crossed connection is shown in enlarged scale in FIG. 2 of the drawing.

Although the members 20 which maintain the configuration of the trellis 19 are referred to as cross members and reference has been and will be made herein to horizontally and vertically extending members, it will be appreciated many trellises have very ornamentalconfigurations and include diagonal, circular and arcuate members which are engaged in many different manners. Any ornamental structures can be assembled in the trellis using the invention. The primary consideration is that two members are required to be secured in a junction and the invention provides a removable connection therefor including novel locating means.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4-, one of the vertically extending members 16 is shown to be. of tubular construction, usually in the form of an extruded or rolled aluminum tube somewhat less than half an inch in diameter. Obviously no limitation is intended as to the size and cross sectional configuration of the vertical members 16 or horizontal members 20. A sheet metal clip 24 is at a location which is intended to provide a junction between the vertical member 16 and a cross member 20. The clip 24 has an arcuate body 26 at least the inside of which conforms to the configuration of the vertical member 16. The body is provided with a perforation at 28 so,that a rivet 30 may be engaged through a suitable perforation 32 in the vertical member 16 and peened over the outside of the clip 24 to hold the same permanently in position upon the vertical member 16. This is shown at 34 in FIG. 3. The upper portion of the clip 24 is provided with a spring finger 36 formed in a manner to provide a throat or opening through which a cross member may be forced. The throat is designated 38 in FIG. 3, and the entrance to the throat is formed by one side of the vertical member 16 and a reverse-bent tab 40 provided on the upper end of the spring finger 36. In inserting the cross member 20 it will be forced into the throat 38 thereby spreading the spring finger 36 which will resiliently return to position after the throat has been passed.

The cross member 20 iis provided with a depression or recess 42 which is located at the point where the junction is desired. The spring finger 36, as will be noted, is bent away from the vertical member 16 to forma curved seat as shown at 44 and, with the insertion of the cross member 20 into the throat 38, the cross member will snap into the seat and be retained thereby. An inwardly directed projection 46 is provided on the spring finger to cooperate with the recess 42 that is formed in the cross member, and when the cross member 20 is snapped into the spring finger the projection 46 will engage in the recess 42 preventing the cross-wise movement of the cross member 20 relative to the member 16. The engagement is positive, but due to the resilience of the spring finger 36 the connection can be separated whenever desired merely by forcing the member 20 out of the seat 44.

, The recess 42 and projection 46 may take many different forms such as' for example the recess 42 may be a perforation or merely a depression forced into the side wall of the cross member 20. Projection 46 may consist of a conical upset extension of the spring finger 36 formed during the stamping process or may be an additional member welded or secured in place. Obviously the projection may be formed on the cross member 20 and a perforation or recess formed on the inside of the seat 44 of the spring finger 36.

The modified form of the invention illustrated in FIG. has a clip 24' which has the spring finger 36' imperforate. Instead of the male and female cooperating projection and recess, a suitable recess 50 is formed in the side wall of the vertical member 16 and a protuberance or projection formed on the transverse or cross member 20' The protuberance may take the form of a rivet or a headed sheet metal screw 52 driven into of the invention has the clip structure on the vertical members 16, in cases where the trellis is fanned outward and the vertical members are initially straight and have to be bent to the fanned condition, the clips preferably Will be secured to the horizontal members as shown in FIG. 6. For example, with the members 16 tending to spring inwardly to return to their normal straight condition, that is, tending to move toward the geometric central vertical axis of the trellis, the clips would advantageously be located on the horizontal members 29. Theclips 24 on the right side of the trellis 10 would in such case have their throats 38 opening to the right and the clips 24 on the left side of the trellis would have their throats 38 opening to the left. Thus, if the spring fingers 36 failed to have sufiicient stiffness to retain the connection between the male and female elements, or if the clip was sprung wide through inadvertent bending or distortion, the vertical members would nevertheless bottom in the clip and the fan arrangement would be prevented from collapsing.

The structure described immediately above is readily visualized and understood by reading the description of FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 with the characters 16 and 20 interchanged on each figure. Likewise the upward direction on each figure may be considered the direction away from the center vertical axis of the trellis.

It is believed that the invention has been sufiiciently described such as to enable those skilled in this art to understand and practice the same, but it is again desired to point out that considerable variation is possible without in any way departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

What it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A knock-down trellis structure adapted to be readily assembled and disassembled and having at least a pair of elongate support members adapted to be connected transverse of one another to form a junction, the first member having resilient metal spring clip means forming a seat and the second member adapted to be removably engaged in said seat, and the members having cooperating male and female locating means to establish the position of said junction, said spring means having a body portion at an end thereof for securing same to said first member.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said locating means comprise a projection and recess on the respective ones of said support members adapted to be disposed one in the other when said second member is engaged in said seat.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said locating means comprise a projection and recess on one of said second member and clip means.

4. A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said locating means comprise a projection in said seat and 'a recess in the side wall of said second support member.

5. A knock-down trellis structure which comprises a plurality of resilient vertical support members secured to gether at their bottom ends and adapted to be fanned outward at their upper ends by springing same away from their normal straight line configuration, at least one structural member crossing said vertical support members and adapted to form junctions therewith at the location of crossing, open throated metal spring clip means secured to the structural member at said junctions and having the throats thereof opening in a direction opposite that direction in which the vertical support members tend to move in attempting to return to their normal straight line configuration, and the vertical support members being engaged in said clips, and cooperating male and female locating means on the clips and vertical support members at the junctions to establish said junctions.

6. A knockdown trellis structure adapted to be readily assembled and disassembled and having at least a pair of elongate support members adapted to be connected I transverse of one another to form a junction, the first member having resilient metal spring means forming a seat, and the second member adapted to be removably engaged in said seat, and the members having cooperating male and female locating means to establish the position of said junction, said spring means having a body portion and an end thereof for securing same to said first member, and said spring means including a spring finger having a free end forming an entrance to said seat Whereby the second member may be forced into said seat past said entrance springing said free end to enlarge said entrance as it enters.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Barnhart 47-44 Wilkins 47-41.2 Eliot 47-44 Tornsjo 24-259 X Schwartz.

FOREIGN PATENTS Austria.

Great Britain. Great Britain. Great Britain.

T. GRAHAM CRAVER, Primary Examiner.

A. JOSEPH GOLDBERG, Examiner. 

1. A KNOCK-DOWN TRELLIS STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO BE READILY ASSEMBLED AND DISASSEMBLED AND HAVING AT LEAST A PAIR OF ELONGATE SUPPORT MEMBERS ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TRANSVERSE OF ONE ANOTHER TO FORM A JUNCTION, THE FIRST MEMBER HAVING RESILIENT METAL SPRING CLIP MEANS FORMING A SEAT AND THE SECOND MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY ENGAGED IN SAID SEAT, AND THE MEMBERS HAVING COOPERATING MALE AND FEMALE LOCATING MEANS TO ESTABLISH THE POSITION OF SAID JUNCTION, SAID SPRING MEANS HAVING A BODY PORTION AT AN END THEREOF FOR SECURING SAME TO SAID FIRST MEMBER. 